Respiratory illnesses are likely to increase as winter approaches, and children can often bear the brunt.

It's important for parents to be able to recognise the symptoms of a virus so they can treat it properly.

Speaking to The Pat Kenny Show, award-winning Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell discussed how her podcast WonderBaba.ie is helping parents of young children.

After the birth of her first child Ms Mitchell started the podcast to combat misinformation around children's health.

She explained what is "automatically a doctor situation".

• If your child is under three months old and they have a fever of over 38 degrees
• If your child is three to six months old and has a fever over 39 degrees
• Any other child experiencing "rapid deterioration of symptoms" such as difficulty breathing, dehydration or "their colour is off"

"This can be something that's seen even in meningitis and viral meningitis certainly at the moment", she said.

"It's important to remember the rash isn't always there." 

Meningitis

Ms Mitchell encouraged parents to have their child get the necessary vaccinations, particularly for meningitis.

"A few years ago, they brought in the Men B vaccination, which is really useful."

"So it's a different form of bacterial meningitis that it protects against, but it's only eligible for children I think born post-2016."

"So, for example, all of my own children wouldn't actually have been eligible to receive that vaccine", she explained.

Parents can pay for their children to receive this particular vaccination privately if they wish.

"They're also offering new or different strains of meningitis, AWY, which they're offering now to older children", she added.

"Even meningitis, in fact, the viral version, which we can't immunize against, is quite frightening. And while it's not usually a sphere, it can lead to you know, serious illness."

Home remedies

If a child isn't showing serious symptoms, Ms Mitchell said there is much that can be done at home to alleviate discomfort.

Increasing humidity in the air at home, whether it be by "putting a damp towel on the radiator or a bowl of water underneath the radiator" can help. 

"Using steam from the bathroom during the last feed at night ... after someone's had a steamy shower or bath reading a little story in there before bed can help to keep all the mucous membranes running."

Keeping wind away from babies' faces is also important, she says, "especially in children showing asthmatic behavior".

If needed, pharmacies can provide saline spray or even a cough bottle in some cases.

Listen back to the full conversation here.